Fire-finishing machine.



M. J. OWENS.

FIRE FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 13, 1902. H0 MODEL. I 3- SHEBTS-BHEBT 1.

Tron/e, no 7' M (JO/1.101267 J: Owe/w;

PATENTED MAY .31, 1904.

J. OWENS. FIRE FINISHING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I filth/tad J Ou/ems N0 MODEL- wtw/easw w: NORRIS PEYERS c0. PNOTD-LITHUJWN NGTDM u. c.

P'ATENTED MAY 31, 1904. M. J. ownus. FIRE FINISHING MACHINE.-

- APPLICATION FILED KAY 13, 1902. v N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I "UNITED STATES MICHAEL J. OWENS, OF- TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TOLEDO Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FIRE-FINISHING MACHINE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,178, dated May 31, 1904.

-A plication {i1 dMay13,1902. SerialNo. 107,124. (NomodeL) lowing is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction of a machine for fire-finishing glassware and in the combination therewith of a polishing device, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown, and specifically pointed out in the claims. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through my improved machine, the section being through one-half of rotary frame which carries the supports or spindles on which the glassarticles are carried through the furnace, showing one of the spindles in elevation with the polishing mold or shapelin operative position. Fig. 2 is-a plan view of'the machine, the top of the furnace being removed to show the articles therein. Fig. 3 is averticalcross-section through the furnace. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the article supports or spindles and the connected parts, showingrthe spindle in position to receive the article. I

In the specific form of apparatus herein shown I have illustrated a series of. spindles .carried on a rotating frame, the spindles being adapted to receive and hold tumblers or glasses and carry them through a fire-finish- .ing furnace, rotating them during the interval at a comparatively low speed. A] polishing mold or shaperis then brought into operative relation to the article on the spindle, which is then rotated at a much higher speed to thereby shape and polish the article, which is then rem'oveol'and the operation repeated. v

A is a suitable base from which extends th vertical post A, upon which the operating parts turn. v

B is a sleeve journaled on the post A, provided near its upper end with .the arms O, one for each spindle.

On the lower end of the sleeve B is secured a worm-gear D, with which meshes a worm D, driven from any suitable source to cause the rotation of the sleeve and with it the operating parts of the machine carried thereby.

I will describe the construction and operation of the parts carried by one of the arms O, and it will be understood that the other arms carry like partsand operate in asimilar manner. It is quite obvious that my invention includes in its broader claims the use of a single one of these arms or spindles, as well as the machine in which a seriesof them are grouped to be operated successively.

E is a spindle to which aglass article E is adaptedto be attached in any suitable manner. In this particular construction I have shown the spindle Eprovided with a head F, which is'adapted to be heated to such a temperature that theglass article placed thereon will adhere to the head and be held during the operations to which it is subjected. To describe in a short phrase this particular means of holding the article, I will refer to the spindle E and its head as a hot spindle or rod The spindle is journaled in a yoke F, secured to a shaft F which in turn is journaled in a vertical yoke Gr,- formed on the outer end ofth arm O. 1

On the inner end of the spindle E is abevelpinion G, which meshes with a bevel gearwheel G which is journaled on the shaft F and is driven by the bevel-pinion H on the shaft H, journaledin brackets above the arm 0. This shaft H is driven at-different speeds at difierent points in its rotation by the following mechanism:

Upon the shaft'I-I is a bevel gear-wheel a, with which meshes a bevel-pinion b on the vertical shaft d, journaled in a bracket 9 on the arm O. Upon the lower portion of the shaftd are two gear-wheels c and IL, loose upon the shaft and adapted to be connected therewith by. the clutch 2', which is actuated by a lever is, pivoted in the bracket Z. This lever at its outer end has a roller engaging a cam m, secured to the standards a, which rise from the base.

0 is a spring acting to holdthe lever always in contact with the cam.

g The gear-wheel c meshes with an annular gear on a sleeve journaled upon the lower portion of the sleeve B. This sleeve qis provided with a drive-gear g, which is driven from any suitable source of power and by any suitable connection, such as indicated in the left end of Fig. 1. The gear-wheel 7L meshes with an annular gear r, secured to a sleeve 1*, which is journaled on the sleeve q and is driven through an annular bevel-gear 8, like wise connected with a drive mechanism in any suitable manner. These parts are so arranged that when, through the medium-of the cam m, the gear-wheel 0 is clutched to the shaft d the shaft H and the hot spindle E will be driven at a comparatively slow speed say thirty revolutions a minutebut when through the action of the cam on the gearwheel h is coupled to the shaft (i then the hot spindle will be driven at a high speedsay three hundred revolutions a minute. There is sufficient space between the gear-wheels c and it so that the clutch 2' maybe arrested intermediate the two, in which position the rotation of the hot spindle will cease. It is evident that the cam m may be arranged (without furtherillustration) so as to effect these movements at the desired time in the travel of the arm C.

It is desirable and quite essential that in placing the tumbler or other glass article upon the .spindle it shall be centered in the true axis of rotation thereof, and to, accomplish this I use the following devices: The yoke F, carrying the spindle E, may be rocked from a horizontal to a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4:. In theoperation of the machine this movement is caused by the following mechanism: I is a. slide working in the horizontal hearing I, which is carried to and extends from the sleeve B above the arm C. This slide is actuated by a roller-wrist I engaging in acamway J, whichis secured to the top post A. The slide I is connected by the link J and the arm orstud J with the yoke F, and the cam is so shaped, as shown in Fig. 2, as to raise and lower the yoke and with it the spindle E. On thespindle E is slid ingly secured a centeringcup K. Connected to this cup is a retracting rod K, which passes through a guide 25 on the arm J and terminatesin a collar u. Between the'collar u and the arm J 2 is a retracting-spring M. In the horizontal position of these parts the spring M is expanded and draws the cup K away from the head F of the spindle, as shown in Fig. 1. As the yoke F andthe spindle is rocked through the connections described into vertical position the retracting-rod K strikes upon a stop L, which is secured to one of the brackets on the arm C, and forces the cup outward upon the spindle, at the same time pressing the spring in until in the vertical position of the parts shown in Fig. 4: the cup will engage over the head F and form a centering means for the tumbler, which may be placed therein.

0 is a glow-box supplied with fuel for combustion in any suitable manner, it being customary to use a gas-flame or Bunsen burner directed therein at any suitable point. (Not herein shown.) This glow-box is segmental in shape and open at its ends, being closed upon the back and top and bottom, and is provided with a slot '0 on its inner face to permit the travel of the hot spindle Etherethrough, as shown in Fig. 3. During the time that the article is passing through the glow-box the spindle is in its horizontal position and is driven by the slow-speed drive-gear already described. I consider it by far the best arrangement to have the article passed through the glow-box in a horizontal position, because as the glass becomes heated and soft if it is in a vertical position it tends to straighten or elongate by the action of grav ity upon the softened glass. In the horizontal position if the tumbler is properly centered upon the hot spindle gravity will act alike upon all sides and the glass will not become distorted even if it should get quite soft in the glow-box. During this travel through the glow-box the edgesof the glass are properly fire-finished, and, as will be observed, the entirearticle is subjected to the heat of-the glow-box both inside and out, and the surface as well asthe edges is properly fire-finished. In order to perfectly shape the article, which may be more orless misshaped during the travel through the glow-box, I use the following mechanism: P is a former which in this case is shown of 'a shape corresponding to substantially one-half of thetumbler. This former is carried at the outer end of the lever P, journaled on the brackets'P on the under side of the arm C and carrying at its inner end a roller w, engaging a camway Q, secured upon the posts a, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The camQ is-so shaped that at the time the hot spindle with the tumbler thereon emerges from the furnace the former will be moved up into contact with the under surface oftheturnbler, as shown in Fig. 1. At the'time that the former comes .into contact with the article the clutch 2 isdisengaged from the low-speed drive-gear and engaged with the high-speed drive-gear, and the article is then rotated at, say, three hundred revolutions per minute incontact. with the former P, which will give it the perfect finished shape. Aft er traveling a short distance IIO and rotating at this speed the former is with- This cycle of operations will be perited to that specific form of device, but that any shaper which would come within the language of the claims and perform the functions described .is within the scope of my invention. V I

What I claim as my inventionjis '1. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane during the rotation of the carrier, a shaper, and means for bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

2. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane during the rotation of the carrier, a shaper, and means for automatically bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

3. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article with its longitudinal axis in a horizontalplane during the rota' tion of the carrier, a shaper traveling with the carrier, andmeans for bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

. 4;. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane during the rota' tion of the carrier, a shaper traveling with the carrier, and means for automatically bringing the article and shaper into operative relation. r

5. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a horizontaldirection, means thereon for supporting a glass article in a horizontal plane during the rotation of the carrier saidmeans being adapted to engage the bottom'face only of said article, a shaper, and means for bringing thelarticle and shaper into operative relation.

6. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction,rmeans thereon for supporting a glass article in a horizontal plane during the rotation of the carrier said means being adapted to engage the bottom face only of said article, a shaper traveling with the carrier, and means for bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

7. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article in a horizontal plane during the rotation of the carrier said means being adapted to engage the bottom face only of said article, a shaper, andmeans for automatically bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

8. In combination with a carrier rotatable in a. horizontal direction, meansI thereon for supporting a glass article in a horizontal plane during the rotation of the carrier said means being adapted to engage the bottom face only of said article, a shaper traveling with the carrier, and means for automatically bringin g the article and shaper into operative relation.

9; In combination with a glow-boxhaving an approximately horizontally disposed opening, in its side,a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article adapted to travel through the opening in the glow-box, a shaper, and means for bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

10. In combination with a glow-box having an approximately horizontally disposed opening in its side, a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article adapted to travel through the opening in the glow-box, said means being adapted to engage the bottom face only of said article, a shaper, and means for bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

11. In combination with a glow-box having an approximately horizontally disposed opening in its side, a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass artlclein a horizontal plane adapted to travel through the opening in the glow-box,-

a shaper, and means for bringing the article and shaper into operative relation.

12. In combination with a glow-box having an approximately horizontally disposed opening in its side, a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting'a glass article in a horizontal plane adapted to travel through the'opening in the glow-box, said means being adapted to engage the bottom face only of said article, a shaper, and

means for bringing the article and shaper into operative relation. 7

13. In combination with a glow-box having an approximately horizontally disposed opening in its side, a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article in a horizontal plane, a shaper, means for bringing the shaper and article into operative relation, means for rotating the supporting means at a relatively slow speed while in the glow-box, and means for rotating the article or shaper at a relatively high speed while occupying said operative relation.

1a.. In combination with a glow-box having an approximately horizontally disposed opening in its side, a carrier rotatable in a horizontal direction, means thereon for supporting a glass article in a horizontal plane, a shaper, means for bringing the shaper and article into operative relation, and means whereby said supporting means is rotated while the article is in the glow-box and also whilein the shaper.

15. The combination of a spindle E, a shaft upon which it is pivoted, means for rotating the spindle, and means for moving the spindle from a horizontal to a Vertical position, of a sliding centering-cup K on the spindle, and means by which it is moved into the centering position for the article in moving the spindle from a horizontal position and is withdrawn from said centering position upon the movement of the spindle to a horizontal position.

16. In a fire-finishing machine, the combination of an arm C, a shaft H, a spindle E, the shaft F, the yoke F on the shaft F said yoke having a journal-bearing thereon for the spindle, a bevel-gear connection between the spindle E and the shaft H and means for moving the yoke and spindle from a horizontal to a vertical position.

17 In a fire-finishing machine, the combination of a support for the article, means for causing that support to travel through a glow box or furnace to fire-finish the article, a shaping device applied to the article during the travel thereof and adjustable gear mechanism for rotating the article-support at difierent speeds.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL J. OWENS.

Witnesses:

WM. S. WALBRIDGE, W. E. Boon. 

